About Bob...
Bob Sharpe has spent half his life with animals. He acquired
his first horse, a half-Morgan mare named Prissy, in 1980, and never looked
back. He has bred top Morgan horses since then, worked with Holsteiners, and has been
active in parrot conservation and dog rescue.
Bob started riding in 1979, at a small hunter barn in Doraville, GA. After
purchasing Prissy and the grand old Morgan stallion Turfwood Royal Flush in
1980, Bob switched to saddleseat. After a year or two at that, Bob discovered
dressage. He rode with Kaye Smarslik for over six years. Kaye taught him not
only how to ride, but how really feel his horse and understand what was happening
as the horse moved with him. Bob learned more about riding in those six years
than most people learn in a lifetime. Kaye passed away in 1999, and Bob still
misses her and appreciates the education she gave him.
Bob grew up in the Atlanta area, and worked in his family's
furniture and appliance business until 1998, when he and his brother and sister
decided to shut down the business and pursue new paths. Bob had always wanted
to pursue a career working with horses, and he had a particular interest in
holistic health care. One day, while spending time in the barn and grooming on the horses, Bob discovered a "tight"
spot in one of his horses' backs. He rubbed it, mostly from habit, and became
fascinated with the horse's reaction. He began massaging the area, and actually
felt the tension in the "spot" start to go away. He
observed how the horse became very relaxed and almost sleepy, and how the
horse reacted to the pleasure and the release of the tension by softening
his mouth, licking and chewing.
That was all it took. Bob began reading and researching,
and decided he had found his calling. And how right he was!
Bob's sensitive
nature makes him a natural with all animals. Since he was a child, he has
had an affinity for dogs, and as he grew into horses and parrots, his knowledge,
understanding and "connection" with animals deepened even more.
Now he uses that connection and sensitivity to his advantage when meeting
a new equine client, and getting to know him or her. Bob's friendly personality
makes him a great favorite of humans and animals alike.
Bob holds an Equine Sports Massage Certification from Don Doran's Equine Sports
Massage School in Reddick, FL. He has also completed a Cadaver Lab program at UGA, as well as several continuing education seminars and workshops. With these credentials, Bob has over 400 hours of education
in equine anatomy, technique and hands-on instruction. Bob feels very strongly
that continuing education is important for any bodyworker, and the more hours
of true, active, hands-on learning a bodyworker has, the better qualified
he or she is to be a part of your horse's health care and performance team.
Bob plans many more hours of education in the near future.
Animals are not the only work Bob does; he serves his church with his "Messages To Go" ministry. Bob is very active in evangelism and provides free tapes and CDs of lessons and sermons from his church to anyone who asks for them. To find out more about this ministry or request a tape or CD, email Bob or call him at 404-550-3237. Please take a moment and visit Bob's congregation online: www.conyerschurch.com When you have visited with us there, come back here and feel free to request tapes or CDs of our sermons or lessons and Bob will send them to you.
Besides his horses, Bob enjoys his Australian Shepherds:
Sam, Savannah, Anna and Jack, and his parrots. Bob is active in parrot conservation,
and supports Aussie and Welsh Corgi rescue. When not messing with his animals,
Bob can be found with his wife Kellie along Coastal Georgia, or in St Augustine,
Florida, soaking up the history and enjoying his status as a licensed tour
guide there.
Email Bob or call him at 404-550-3237
for a free phone consultation, or to set up an appointment for your horse.
Bob also enjoys speaking to groups about Equine Sports Massage therapy; it
is important to him to further the understanding of ESM and how it can integrate
into your overall health care program for your animals.
